Maricopa woman arrested for attempted murder

Maricopa police have arrested a Homestead resident who allegedly admitted trying to kill her pregnant friend and take the unborn baby.

Police first encountered Kassandra Toruga on Feb. 16 when responding to a fire the she supposedly set in her friend’s closet in a home located in the Cobblestone Farms subdivision.

At the scene, police discovered the 19-year-old woman in possession of two large butcher knives, a pair of scissors, diapers and baby clothes. Maricopa Police Chief Kirk Fitch said enough evidence existed to charge the woman with a crime at that time, but police choose to continue the investigation instead.

After a several weeks of follow-up police work, Fitch said Toruga confessed that she had planned to murder her friend and cut the baby from her body.

“This was an example of an excellent investigation that led to an attempted murder confession,” Fitch said.

Toruga is currently being held in Pinal County Jail on charges of attempted murder, arson and burglary.

Her bond is set a $500,000 and her next court date is March 15.

Since the arrest, the suspect’s friend has given birth to the child; according to police, she remains fearful the suspect will attempt to return and kidnap her baby,